A YOUNG woman unable to work after she was knocked down by a Jeep has won her battle for benefits - thanks to The Sheriff.

Emma Davey, 24, needed surgery for agonising leg injuries after an uninsured driver collided with her as she crossed the road.

But she was told she could not have incapacity benefit because she had not notched up enough National Insurance points. She was also refused income support because her parents put #100 into her bank account to cover student loan repayments.

Graduate Emma, who had just started shop work to save for teacher training, said: "My mistake was to tell the truth. I could have said I received no money from any source but didn't want to lie."

But after The Sheriff took up her case with the Department of Work and Pensions Emma was told she CAN have income support of #23.78 a week.

"Thank you so much," said Emma, of Barnsley, South Yorks. "You've really made a difference."

She was knocked down by a Jeep as she walked to work last September.

"The driver swerved and clipped my le g," she recalled. "At first I didn't know what had happened but when I tried to walk my leg gave way and I collapsed in agony."

Emma needed a rod and pins in her left leg and had to walk with a crutch. The 19-year-old driver was fined for having no insurance.

Emma was working to clear #20,500 debts that she ran up while getting her human services degree.

She said: "I can't work as my leg still leaves me in a lot of pain.

"There are thousands of people taking every penny in benefits that they can and working at the same time, yet I couldn't get anything.

"It seems the system only works for dishonest people and neglects the rest of us.

"It's not as if I haven't paid taxes or National Insurance. I've worked part-time since I was 16 and even had a job as a teaching assistant for a year.

"I want to get back to work but for the time being I need a little help. My parents have been forced to help but it's not fair to them, especially when there are so many people cheating the system."

Emma first applied for incapacity benefit last December but was quickly refused.

She claims staff lost her application when she sought income support.

She filled out another form in January then contacted The Sheriff.

A DWP spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual cases."

He added: "You have to disclose what money you earn, otherwise you face prosecution."